Why we still work to stop Obamacare

Tue, 04/02/2013 - 11:07amLetters to the ...

[Editor’s note: Marking the 3rd anniversary of Obamacare, which was signed into law March 23, 2010, Reps. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) and Doug Collins (R-GA-9) co-authored an op-ed featured last month in the Pickens County Progress about the Defund Obamacare Act (H.R. 1005) and why they will continue working to stop the law.]

We remain optimistic that Obamacare can and will be repealed. While the 2012 election results and the Supreme Court decision might seem to suggest otherwise, it’s important to remember that the law has just begun to take effect. In fact, Obamacare won’t be in full force until 2014.

Recently, a joint report issued by the Republican members of House and Senate congressional committees shed some light on what we can expect.

For Georgia, health insurance premiums are expected to increase between 61 percent and 100 percent.

For young adults in Atlanta, the premium increase is projected to be as high as 179 percent.

These are shocking financial burdens for families and young people who are already struggling under the economic hardship of the Obama years.

Knowing what’s at stake for our families and communities, we have rallied our efforts behind the Defund Obamacare Act. The legislation would prevent your tax dollars from being used to fund Obamacare, which means its many costly, burdensome and invasive provisions would not be implemented.

We believe the Defund Obamacare Act has an opportunity to gain traction in Congress for many reasons beyond the premium increases. Obamacare will become increasingly unpopular as its $1 trillion tax hike and 127 million hours of regulatory compliance begin to weigh down communities across the country.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 7 million Americans will lose their employer-based health insurance because of the law and that 800,000 people will lose their jobs.

Other estimates say that millions of jobs will be at risk as employers transition from full-time employees to more part-time employees to deal with the high costs of the law.

Even if Obamacare doesn’t directly impact your health insurance or job, it will reverberate throughout the entire economy, all the way to your favorite food joints and even pet care.

Recently, there were news reports about Five Guys restaurants raising the price of their famous burgers and fries as a result of Obamcare and veterinarians charging more to care for pets as a result of the law’s new medical device tax.

It’s easy for eyes to glaze over at all the numbers, statistics and warnings, but the fact is, the government has wrapped its arms around an entire sector of the economy, and the impact on our lives will be significant.

The Obama Administration will allow consumers to begin signing up for Obamacare in October, and the whole law kicks in this coming January. With our timeline growing shorter, we’re working hard to build support for the Defund Obamacare Act now.

Our bill is designed to tear the law out by every root. Not only does it protect your tax dollars from being used to put any part of the law into place, but it would also take back previously approved funding so that we get as much of our money refunded as possible.

If need be, we are prepared for a long fight. If this law is in place come January, the severe consequences of government-centered healthcare will begin to take hold, and public opinion of the law will become increasingly negative.

As costs rise and more people lose their jobs, we could see Americans of all political stripes turn against Obamacare in droves, and if they do, we’ll be ready to rally their support around our legislation to stop the law.

The Defund Obamacare Act enjoyed the support of more than 70 cosponsors during the last Congress, and we hope to build even more support during this legislative session.

If we’re going to stop the law, we need every voice on our side to speak out. Tell your friends and family across the country about the Defund Obamacare Act. Urge them to contact their Member of Congress and encourage him or her to become a cosponsor.

With less than nine months to go and the real impact of the law beginning to sink in, we have a real chance to stop Obamacare. It is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.

Rep. Tom Graves

Rep. Doug Collins

[Rep. Tom Graves (GA-14) is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the original sponsor of H.R. 1005, the Defund Obamacare Act. Rep. Doug Collins (GA-09) is serving his first term as a Member of Congress and an original co-sponsor of H.R. 1005, the Defund Obamacare Act.]

Comments

I have no problem with replacing Obamacare. It looks like these legislators are well on the way toward that goal.

My question is what are the conservatives proposing to address the problems that Obamacare was supposed to handle? How will uninsurable people with pre-existing conditions gain coverage? How will poor people gain coverage? Must hospitals continue to treat everyone who comes to the ER even if they can't pay (and then pass the costs on to those of us who can pay)? Who will protect small businesses who can't gain reasonable coverage because a single employee has an existing health problem?

Again, I raise these issues not to promote Obamacare, but rather because I haven't heard how those who oppose Obamacare will handle these current problems.

You ask an important question but when you get your answers you need to ask those responding

a) Are they currently employed and under a large group plan?
b) Are they retired and on Medicare?

Most who own small businesses will tell you they support Obamacare although it is not ideal and many aspects need to be modified.

In the South, small business owners will say they don't support it (in public) but privately they do because they live with the brunt of sky rocketng costs and pre-existing conditions every day. Those in group plans such as Delta, GA Government, etc don't. The same is true of of elected officials at the Federal level.

Some people don't separate the issue which is "health insurance" not health care. The problem is health insurance.

How about this idea. Offer medicare to those that can not get due to pre-existing condition or can not afford insurance. Charge on a sliding scale. Let those that can pay something equal to what an insurance policy would cost a healthy person pay that and adjust from there all the way to free if necessary. Put more money into the county health clinics. Force doctors that are currently not repaying their student loans to work it off at these clinics or go to jail. Subsidize it with a sin tax on alcohol and tobacco. Preventive health care would prevent a lot of serious problems later. And we already have a foundation in which to address this problem in the county health clinics. Pumping more money into them so that they can be open and provide health care would be a huge start. Even the hospitals would profit since they would at least get some payment for services provided instead of doing it for free as they are now.

After looking at your suggestions - not too different from what Obamacare offers.

[Quote]Even the hospitals would profit since they would at least get some payment for services provided instead of doing it for free as they are now.[/quote]

Hospitals don't provide anything for free (or the administrator would be fired). We, the paying and insured patients make up the difference . How would this change? I agree that preventative healthcare may help to bring the cost of healthcare down.
According to the Supreme Court, Obamacare is the law. Can changes be made? Of course, but if our legislators had worked together in the beginning, the needed changes may have been part of the existing document. Americans, regardless of ideology, are tired of politicians involved in their healthcare and personal relationships.

That word has really been used a lot! As Americans, most don't expect to get anything for free. I pay my premium for Medicare quarterly. Yes, it can be called a 'tax' I guess. However, at my age, and the astounding rise in cost of living since my '20's - I would be in deep trouble without that program to cover costs of medical treatment and/or hospitalization. My group insurance is also appreciated. I just had in office treatment for an eye problem by an outstanding laser surgeon. Cost to insurance: approximately $4500.00. Cost from out of pocket: $ 350.00. What do people do without insurance? Obamacare has not changed my coverage - and at my age, the slight raise in premiums is gratefully paid.

[quote]That word has really been used a lot! As Americans, most don't expect to get anything for free. I pay my premium for Medicare quarterly. Yes, it can be called a 'tax' I guess. However, at my age, and the astounding rise in cost of living since my '20's - I would be in deep trouble without that program to cover costs of medical treatment and/or hospitalization. My group insurance is also appreciated. I just had in office treatment for an eye problem by an outstanding laser surgeon. Cost to insurance: approximately $4500.00. Cost from out of pocket: $ 350.00. What do people do without insurance? Obamacare has not changed my coverage - and at my age, the slight raise in premiums is gratefully paid.[/quote]

I don't have an answer to your question. My concern is the healthcare in the most powerful country in the world. With so many out of work, and no health insurance that would be provided by their job, how do we maintain the health of our country? To those interested in statistics, our health stats are not good. Our children are overweight, those suffering from various diseases - that number is growing. To concern oneself about the nomenclature of the source of funding seems 'weak'. Atwater did a good job in the '80's - the word 'tax' is the boogeyman. Good health is essential to a productive society. It will have to be funded until we practice a healthier lifestyle . IMO. Dishonesty? Sorry, but if the country can move on from the 'deceit ' of our involvement in Iraq, I think we will survive this perceived deceit.

To say that it's ok for my guy to lie and deceive because the other guy did is a weak response. To say the ends justifies the means isn't much better.I see the country as a large over 200 year old oak tree so to speak. Each time a "leader" deceives the people it's like taking an axe to the tree. One whack and the tree will recover. Two whacks and the tree will recover. But at some point the tree will fall. And forgiving logic almost to the point of worshiping them will not hold our "leaders" accountable. It will only enable them to continue on the course of destruction.

We can pour more and more money at the chronic illnesses but it is a black hole. Somehow folks need to be incented to practice good health and fitness.
If I eat well and get exercise why should I be forced to pay the excessive costs of folks who do not practice a healthy lifestyle. You can throw all the money in the world at these problems for these folks but many of them are to blame. Many European Countries spend less on healthcare costs than the US but because they are healthier because of lifestyle the care does not suffer due to costs.

Another point is Food Stamps..Food Stamps should never have been allowed to be used for convienence foods. My grandparents were not wealthy but bought staples and cooked from scratch and we had delicious meals. I try to cook from scratch and as I work full time and try to cook 3 or 4 meals at a time which will serve us most of the week.

Why are 'Americans' looking to Obamacare instead of to good, solid home training like you have provided for your family? We don't have that 'family' situation like our grandparents provided in most homes. We glamorize unhealthy convenience food; there are those who actually make fun of those who encourage people to grow their own vegetables (community gardens); In part of the Obamacare Bill, there is a section for preventative care. (Just good common sense in caring for your mental and physical health) Yet - we're cutting PE out of the educational curriculum for our young children; we're serving some horrendous meals in too many public schools (although there is a movement to correct this) Until our country is 'healthy' we will not be able to compete with those countries that saw the value in maintaining good health care for their citizens. Our students are not physically or academically at the 'top' any more. Our country is ridiculously 'overweight'. I congratulate you and many of the women that I have met in Fayette County - who are maintaining a healthy life style for their families. However, in this current financial situation - there are too many families who do not have adequate health saving services or home practices. Obamacare will not affect most families who come from middleclass homes - except for a slight increase in premiums. What is not sustainable is for working families to continue to pay the cost of those who have no insurance or misuse food stamps, etc. Also, we need to look at the abuse in the cost of hospitalization. When one who is in the hospital is charged .25 for a band aid - there is something wrong!

Slight increase is not what is happening with health care premiums. Mine went up 18% last year and looks like more this year. The problem is the Government solution is too broad and the administrative requirements are so expensive. You can no longer buy a basic policy if you are healthy..

And FYI-The .25 bandaid is nothing new and has been around for decades. The biggest problem is administrative costs for health care. Doctors are so scared of Audits and Malpractice that they spend a lot of time and money ordering extra tests, making sure that their billing is perfect. The number of staff needed to administer the paperwork for medical claims is ridiculous (Of course, I shouldn't complain because the rules and regulations have given me a lucrative career).

When I started in the business a doctor would have a receptionist(who handled all the paperwork) and maybe a nurse. Now I see 2 doctor practices with 2 receptionists, 2 or 3 biller/coders, 2 nurses or medical assistants, a lab tech and an exit receptionist.

18% Wow! I've been fortunate - and had very little contact with the medical profession regarding my health until now (Two kids - both healthy) Surely if politics were set aside, the economists and health care professionals could work this out! Sad about not being able to buy a 'basic policy'. I took my fathers advice - and accepted a position where the health benefits were paid by the employer. I realize that I am most fortunate - and believe me, at these prices, most grateful for Medicare. Thanks for the input. Gave me insight into the cost of running a doctor's office.

I have been on the adminstrative side of health care for 25 years and am amazed by the excessive rules and regulations. The overhead cost of submitting a claim to an insurer is extremely high(just administrative costs). In 1998 the AMA estimated it at $25 per visit, it is closer to $35 now. A large problem is that folks don't "pay" for their healthcare anymore. When I was younger you paid to see the doctor and insurance was for things like surgery, not for general care. If you had insurance to pay for general services the doctor handed you a claim and you filed it yourself after paying the doc.

If you are interested I actually did a seminar on the History of Healthcare in 2000 and can send you the slide deck. It is interesting how the evolution of it has changed in the last 35 years.

rmoc, I agree the fact that folks don't "pay" for their healthcare anymore is the #1 contributor to runaway medical costs. I pay 100% up to my deductible, which is a rare thing, and even the health care providers typically have no clue what the services/prescriptions they recommend or prescribe cost. And I've seen the exact same test cost 15 times more from one place, primarilly where the Dr. recommends, vs. another. It is very difficult to shop around for healthcare when even the providers often cannot quote costs. We should all have some skin in the game and have to pay at least a percentage of the list price.

Throughout the healthcare debate the terms "healthcare" and "health insurance" have been used synonymously, showing just how far off kilter we are.

Expanding Medicare (as you suggest) was proposed during the original Obamacare legislative debates and was opposed by the more conservative legislators because it was an expansion of a government program. Conservatives generally consider the private sector to be more efficient than any government run program. I?۪m sure that the insurance company lobbyists were involved in this decision as well.

At any rate, I am not at all sold on Obamacare, but I have not seen any credible alternative health insurance solution proposed by the conservatives. I would like to evaluate their options in contrast to Obamacare.

I very much like the idea of preventive health care (the ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure). How could this be fostered widely? Could we trust government initiatives and education, or is there a market based incentive program that might effectively promote this?

You mention enhancing public health as well. However, I see little appetite to raise or spend tax money on government run health clinics.

I appreciate your suggested solutions, but I don?۪t see them as being embraced by the conservative legislators. I still don?۪t know what they are proposing.

I totally agree that the private sector does a much better job than any government agency. However, in this case the private sector has turned their back on a certain sector of the population. So we're left with choosing the lessor of 2 evils. No coverage for these people or a government run plan. With Medicare the structure is already in place. As for the funding those receiving help would pay based on a sliding scale. A sin tax on tobacco and alcohol would help make up the difference. This would insure that most of the cost would be covered by the people that will need the service. Also I saw a special not long ago on medical students that weren't paying back student loans, and the government wasn't pressing the issue. I say let them work off these loans in these clinics. The clinics would now collect what Medicare would pay instead of provide totally free health care. The hospital's would also get to collect something instead of nothing. Healthcare cost for the rest of us should go down since we don't have to cover those that currently can't pay at all. With this plan the government is only involved to the point that all have access to some form of healthcare. And the structure already exists. As for this, or any other suggestion that does not somehow line the pockets of politicians, I don't see it being embraced either.

I see merit in your suggestions and have no criticisms of these ideas. Do you know if the more conservative legislators have embraced these ideas or any others? I read vociferous complaints about Obamacare, but I can't seem to find the alternatives being advanced by the complainers.

My company is actually reducing to Hourly Part-Time employees versus Salaried. This is in large part due to the costs associated with Obamacare (as well as other benefits) and due to the nature of our work (Consultants that the company only makes money when they have billable hours). I am fortunate that I can choose since I am grandfathered in. The scary part is that our company was covered by Romneycare since we are a Massachusetts company.

The costs of Healthcare will continue to skyrocket because Americans choose unhealthly living styles and I doubt Obamacare can help. A large number of the "unhealthly" are overweight and do not have a decent level of fitness.
In previous decades many of these folks would have died or would have been forced to "get in shape" since medical options were not available. Chronic Illnesses are a large reason that our healthcare costs are so high and unless wellness is a priority it won't improve. I am especially disturbed by the large number of overweight children and teens. We need to go back to mandatory PE and parents need to be held accountable for their childrens health issues. When I was a child we spent our days outside, we walked to the store, walked to school and a coke was a treat. I think we did not eat as healthly as some would think, but most of our food was not "processed" and we had plenty of exercise.

..as a member of the SBA Georgia I respectively disagree... Most Small Businesses DO NOT support Obamacare. They are learning the regulations, the fees and the cost associated with the ACA is damaging to them.

Those in the SBA that support it are a small minority not the "most" as you state.

"Whoever claims the right to redistribute the wealth produced by others is claiming the right to treat human beings as chattel."

I'm not surprised that SBA Georgia is opposed.
Stats show that almost every southeastern state (Ala, Miss, GA, SC and a fee others) are in opposition to the Affordable Healthcare Act.
Would love to see both parties working together to fix the law to make it work where all families can afford health care so all families who want coverage can afford it to varying degrees. Too much abuse in the current system!